2015/11/28

Most Japanese people have a strong sense of justice and dislike breaking rules. On the other hand, the idea exists somewhere in the Japanese mentality that “We are safe if everyone crosses together on a red light.”

I think the root of this clearly contradictory Japanese mentality is the value “respect for harmony” espoused by Shotoku Taishi.

Usually breaking a rule would “disrupt harmony,” but among Japanese themselves, depending on the prevailing mood, sometimes approval of the breaking of a rule does not “disrupt harmony.”

However, when everyone crosses on a red light every day, they forget the underlying rule, which can be a problem.
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Broadcast Law, Article 4. The broadcaster shall comply with the matters provided for in the following items when editing the broadcast programs of domestic broadcasting or domestic and international broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as “domestic broadcasting, etc.”):
(i) It shall not harm public safety or good morals;
(ii) It shall be politically fair.
(iii) Its reporting shall not distort the facts;
(iv) It shall clarify the points at issue from as many angles as possible where there are conflicting opinions concerning an issue.
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Television and radio operators, while private enterprises, are quasi-public entities licensed by the national government to exclusively use and monopolize certain broadcast frequencies. Accordingly, in all countries their “freedom of speech” is subject to certain restrictions. Article 4 of the Japanese Broadcast Law is a relatively loose requirement calling for fairness, neutrality, and factual accuracy, and in fact has no provision for penalties in the event of violations.

Incidentally, newspapers and other printed media enjoy full “freedom of speech” and are not subject to any laws such as the Broadcast Law.

On September 15, 1945 the Asahi Newspaper published an interview with Ichiro Hatoyama (who later became prime minister) who opined that “use of the atomic bomb and killing of innocent civilians [abbreviated] was an undeniable war crime.” On the 17th of the same month, it also published an article critical of the crimes of American occupation forces. As a result, it was slapped with an order for a two-day suspension of publication.

Article 10 of the Potsdam Declaration stated “Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established,” but in Japan under GHQ (General Headquarters of the Allied Forces), there was no freedom of speech.

Getting back to the Broadcast Law, GHQ forced broadcasters to convey “factually distorted reports” through programs such as NHK’s radio program “This Is the Actual Truth.” Thereafter, for 70 years many broadcasters have continued to cross on the red light.

The “Association of Audiences Seeking Adherence to the Broadcast Law” of which I am a founding member, advocates only that it is time to stop crossing on the red light. However, for the broadcasters, we may be viewed as rude intruders disrupting the harmony which has existed for 70 years.

2015/11/21

On the night of November 13th (local time), a terrorist attack was carried out in Paris, the capital of France. 129 people died, and more than 350 were wounded. We pray for the repose of the souls of those who died and the quick recovery of those wounded.

Paris has long been a vibrant city symbolizing Western culture. From artists to authors, designers, models, and chefs, the leading figures of Western culture in their formative years aspire to learn in Paris. Modern music and theater may be centered in New York and ballet in Moscow, but overall, Paris is the most revered center of Western culture.

American author Ernest Hemingway spent time in Paris during his youth. Toward the end of his life, he left the following words: “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.”

Paris has a marvelous power to welcome aspiring artists from around the world and inspire and develop them.

At the same time, Paris has taken the lead in showing to the world that artistry and nationality are not related. Western painters Gogh, Monet, Degas and others left works exhibiting a strong influence from Japanese Ukiyoe, and Damier Canvas and Monogram Canvas patterns by Louis Vuitton were influenced in part by Japanese checkered patterns and family crests.

The cowardly and base terrorist attacks committed against Paris are the total antithesis of culture and civilization, and as a Westerner, I find them unforgiveable.

War is a deplorable act of mutual human killing which, unfortunately, the human race is unable to abandon even in this 21st Century.

The two world wars of the 20th Century were unspeakable tragedies which engulfed multitudes of innocent civilians. For that reason, international society has made efforts to make certain rules so that war will be waged only between formal armed forces who have resolved to take the risk of death.

Terrorists who indiscriminately attack civilians bring the aspirations of all mankind to naught, and are the enemies of the entire world.

In reviewing the foreign reports of this attack I found it disappointing that several foreign media sources described the IS suicide bombings as “kamikaze” attacks.

The kamikaze special attack teams during the Greater East Asia War targeted only the aircraft carriers and battleships, etc. of armed enemy combatants. The nature of their actions has no resemblance to these cowardly and base terrorist attacks.

Coming across these reports which make it evident that Japan is not well-understood by Westerners made this terrorist attack doubly bitter for me.